Tag Archives: why humor is important in teaching

Josef Broder is Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and a professor at the University of Georgia for more than two decades. He is the winner of several outstanding teacher awards. He is known for his great wit and sense of humor. In an essay titled “Creating and Environment for Teaching and Learning” Broder emphasizes the need to use humor in the classroom. He shares an anecdote about his young son who was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. His son responded: “Dad, I want to be a professor and a comedian just like you!”

Broder reflects on the importance of humor as a teaching tool in the classroom: “I have always appreciated humor in the classroom, whether coincidental or intentional. However, those who want to introduce humor in their classroom should distinguish between delivering humor and developing a sense of humor. I think a key element of effective teaching is for teachers to develop a sense of humor that goes beyond telling an occasional joke… By a sense of humor, I mean a state of mind that recognizes the limitations of ourselves and our knowledge. Humor is relief from dogma, which students find to be tedious. Humor and irony can be powerful teaching tools when used to challenge, and present, conflicting points of view.” Moreover, Broder believes that teachers who use humor are more believable, more human, and more approachable. Because Broder does have a great sense of humor, shares his top ten list of the most common questions and comments he has heard during his teaching career.

I can’t be in class tomorrow. Will you be talking about anything important?

Is this score on my exam the number wrong or the number right?

I got the exact same answer as my classmate, but she got a higher grade.